Shirting Stripe Moses

When I emerged from the bedroom wearing this shirt, The Photographer said, “OooOOooo . .. . . . Moses!”

Fair enough!

I cannot say why, exactly, I was so taken by this blouse when I saw it in September, but taken I was.

Fortunately, even my taken-self is capable of patience and so we waited for the post holiday — and I don’t mean Columbus Day — sales. Because as charming as this blouse is, it’s a little odd and therefore not an appropriate vessel for investment-type spending.

Moses supposes his toeses are roses

The Photographer went on to say, “You need two giant tablets.”

Oh really? You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.

Directrice 120:

For some reason, we failed to take

a full-length photo of the front

but 120 degrees is plenty scope for the imagination

The blouse could be worn alone, but I am distrustful of wrap-style garments and paranoid about the possibility of bare midriff — so I layered it over another blouse that provides ample coverage for any type of slip or fall.

Suspicious prude

In addition to this striped poplin — so business — this blouse also came in a red chiffon (very nice drape) and a navy wool challis (also very nice drape), but those were sold out. The striped poplin is just right for Casual Friday with khakis or Low Business Casual if paired with pinstriped pants and flats.

Head-on (though headless)

Good side

A little asymmetry in the back

Bad side: Is it better or worse with head partially cropped?

What’s that? You want to see my awesome shoes? Sure! Come closer!

Awesome, dreadful shoes

If you are shaking your head, saying to yourself, “Why does she keep buying these big, black shoes?”

It’s my nature, she cried.

Just feel sorry for me . . . but I am delighted with these

Also, new lipstick alert. I’ve been wanting something pale, so I rooted through my lip pencils found a light NARS Satin Lip Pencil (Isola Bella) which I tried with a new NARS Lip Gloss (Supervixen, I am embarrassed to say). I like the combination and it keeps me from biting my lips.

22 thoughts on “Shirting Stripe Moses”

I… this one… I just can’t see wearing this to work. Or out of the house. I think maybe I need to see the pinstripe outfit you describe?

Usually I think your challenging pieces are challenging but successful on you. This one… There is so much volume in the blouse that it eats your shape, even with the belt – and I keep thinking it’s your bathrobe? Maybe Fatima can help?

On further thought, and looking at the webpage and styling, I can see the idea, so I take back the “I can’t see wearing this”. I really do think this may be just a question of tweaking the fit slightly? Or moving the shoulder seams forward slightly from where they’re resting behind your collar bone?

I could see this blouse over a long (mid-calf), straight jersey dress. Is that what you were thinking? When I bought this blouse, I thought I would wear it with a grey wool suit — under the jacket — and realized when it arrived that that was simply not in the realm of possibility. It would be like wearing a life-jacket under a suit . . . which as I am saying it (in my head) does sound sort of cool . . .

Today I wore a dark teal blue blouse and forest green tights. They went together more strangely than you might even be imagining. I acknowledged the fact as I surveyed the effect, and wore them anyway. No one is harmed by these sartorial leaps of judgment. We bring only joy.

This is indeed an eccentric blouse but what a good outfit on you ! Nice and crisp (some of us would emerge in a rumpled mess if wearing this under a winter coat) and certainly nothing to spook any fashion-inattentive co-workers – striped poplin, khakis, sensible shoes, check, check and check.

On the cool shoes, wonder if you have any thoughts about keeping the thick white soles clean or just allowing them get grubby and scuffed ? I’m tempted by similar styles but figure that if they have to be babied like leather-soled dress shoes, I might as well stick to the latter …

MC Bontemps — I commend you on raising a problem that I had not even started to consider. What will I do when the soles get dirty. Do you think I could clean them with some bleach diluted with water and a scrub brush? How likely is it that I would get bleach on my clothes or in my eye? I am going to poke around the internet and see what advice I can find. Will report back in the future!

There’ something about it, right? I can’t explain it. It does unwrap completely and could probably serve as the bottom sheet on a twin bed. Versatile! I am not sure how it will be laundered/ironed and therefore am thinking that I will take it to the cleaner and let them sort it out — but because it is just a plain cotton poplin, I won’t ruin it if I wash it at home. Stay tuned, Cat!

That’s interesting. Of course, I’d wear it with a plain skirt and a tank that didn’t show, except in the case of a malfunction. I’d add that wearing things like that with something knit and absorption underneath can lengthen their wear between ironings time.

I’d be interested to see how it’s put together beyond the self belt. Are there buttons holding the wrap together?

Good observation and yes, Ginger! The photos of this blouse (striped poplin) and the other fabrics (chiffon, challis) show the blouse worn in several different postures — with the shoulder seams over the collarbone, with the shoulder seams pulled back (as I have), with the back cinched by the self-belt and not. There’s a lot of fabric to work with.